Band 8a- Deputy General Manager, Surgery

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Band 8a- Deputy General Manager, Surgery

The closing date is 07 October 2025

We are seeking to appoint a highly motivated and organised individual to join the Surgical Division as a Deputy General Manager overseeing the Trauma, Orthopaedics and Pain service portfolio.

To succeed in the role, you must have a flexible approach along with excellent communication and interpersonal skills. You will also need to demonstrate the ability to lead a team and be able to meet tight deadlines with consistency and rigour.

West Herts Hospital Trust covers 3 hospital sites in Hertfordshire. We are undertaking a very exciting Acute Redevelopment programme around our infrastructure over the next few years. The successful candidate will play an integral part in shaping these redevelopments whilst working alongside your designated Clinical Directors.

We are looking for people with passion for being part of a team, who are not afraid to challenge, but can also listen empathically and move things forward, improving quality of services for patients.

This role requires regular time on site (80%) and cannot be fully remote.

The Trust is supportive of flexible working and requests will be considered in line with the needs of the service and working patterns across the team.

Interviews will be held in person at the Watford site on 23rd October 2025.

Main duties of the job

The Deputy General Manager will be responsible for effective operational and business management of several specialities, ensuring the delivery of high-quality patient services within the resources available.

There will be a strong operational focus intended to provide support for the day-to-day management and administration of services. This will include the delivery of performance targets, including managing long waiting patients and associated demand and capacity modelling and delivery of recovery trajectories.

The post holder will support clinical teams in the delivery of services across specific specialties. They will be expected at times to work independently and in line with service requirements. They will demonstrate a solution-focused approach and drive service improvements within the services. Integration with the clinical teams is vital and you will work closely with the Clinical Leads and senior nurses in across the services to ensure optimum service delivery.

Direct line management of the administration managers within the services/specialties and acting as a lead for the administrative processes/functions within the services, ensuring they are fit for purpose.

The successful candidates will be responsible for service-related budgets including revenue, establishment control and cost improvement programmes.

About us

With a new hospital planned for Watford and work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital, this is an exciting time to join us. We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working ever more closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare. Staff wellbeing and development are a priority at our Trust, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience. Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others. We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance. If you have a disability or long-term health condition and should you require support or guidance please contact If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form. We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Job responsibilities

Lead operational management of services to meet RTT, cancer, and performance targets.

Manage budgets, resources, and performance against financial and activity plans.

Drive service development, improvement projects, and cost efficiency programmes.

Ensure robust governance, risk management, and quality standards.

Provide visible leadership, manage staff, and support training and development.

Use data and information systems to monitor, report, and improve performance.

Foster effective communication and engagement with clinical teams and stakeholders.

Represent the service/division and support cross-divisional working.

Lead change programmes, motivating teams and ensuring delivery of service improvements.

Lead on delivery of service KPIs, specialty strategies, and divisional business plans.

Develop business cases, negotiate service agreements, and contribute to commissioning.

Person Specification Education and qualifications

• Education to degree level within a relevant area e.g. management degree, clinical degree or equivalent experience.
• Post graduate management qualification or in the process of studying for.

Knowledge

• Strong understanding of the health and care sector including operational management.
• RTT management
• Understands admissions and outpatient services and processes
• Experience of both primary and secondary care organisations. Project management skills.
• Prior experience of working across two or more organisational boundaries.

Experience

• Previous NHS experience.
• Experience operating at a senior organisational level.
• Experience of using numerical analysis in problem solving.
• Experience of budgetary Management
• Experience of producing business cases.
• Experience of managing RTT targets and Cancer waiting times.
• Demonstrable operational management experience, with at least years managing large groups of staff.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust